The Serenity of Suffering

The Serenity of Suffering is the twelfth studio album by American nu metal band Korn. It was released on October 21, 2016.[4] According to guitarist Brian Welch, it is "heavier than anyone's heard us in a long time"[5] and it contains their most intense vocals and music in recent times.[6]

The Serenity of Suffering
Studio album by
ReleasedOctober 21, 2016 (2016-10-21)
Recorded2015–2016
Studio
Genre
Length40:34
LabelRoadrunner
ProducerNick Raskulinecz
Korn chronology
The Paradigm Shift
(2013)
The Serenity of Suffering
(2016)
The Nothing
(2019)
Singles from The Serenity of Suffering
  1. "Rotting in Vain"
    Released: July 22, 2016[1]
  2. "Take Me"
    Released: November 1, 2016[2]
  3. "Black Is the Soul"
    Released: June 7, 2017[3]

Background

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The band began working on their follow up to The Paradigm Shift in 2015, with Head claiming that it would be "heavier than anyone's heard [us] in a long time". It's the first album to feature significant songwriting contributions from Head since he rejoined the band in 2013. The song "Take Me" was originally written by Jonathan Davis for his debut solo album, but after hearing it, the rest of Korn re-wrote the track and decided to include it on The Serenity of Suffering.[7]

The artwork includes the stuffed toy from Korn's fourth album, Issues, and was created by Ron English.[8]

Commercial performance

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The Serenity of Suffering debuted at number 4 on the US Billboard 200 with 57,000 units, 55,000 of which were pure album sales.[9] As of December 2017, the album has sold 133,000 copies in the US.[10]

Reception

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Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic67/100[11]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [12]
Classic Rock
(GER)
     [13]
     [14]
The Guardian     [15]
Metal Hammer     [16]
Metal Injection8.5/10[17]
Rolling Stone     [18]

The Serenity of Suffering received an approval rating of 67/100 on review aggregator website Metacritic based on nine reviews, indicating a "generally favorable" response from critics.[11]

AllMusic wrote: "Without pandering to career-peak nostalgia, Korn deftly execute all the hallmarks that have come to define their sound", calling it "one of their best albums".[12] Metal Hammer wrote: "The Serenity of Suffering is like a selection box of Korn's defining moments."[16]

A less favorable review came from Rolling Stone, writing: "Suffering is heavy enough to stand proudly in the Korn kanon, but not daring enough to be much else."[18]

Track listing

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All tracks are written by Korn.[19]

No.TitleLength
1."Insane"3:50
2."Rotting in Vain"3:33
3."Black Is the Soul"4:01
4."The Hating"4:22
5."A Different World" (featuring Corey Taylor)3:20
6."Take Me"3:00
7."Everything Falls Apart"4:17
8."Die Yet Another Night"4:28
9."When You're Not There"3:24
10."Next in Line"3:28
11."Please Come for Me"2:53
Total length:40:36
European/UK/New Zealand/Japanese Deluxe edition bonus tracks[20]
No.TitleLength
12."Baby"4:55
13."Calling Me Too Soon"3:23
Total length:48:54
Japanese edition bonus track
No.TitleLength
14."Out of You"3:29
Total length:52:23

Personnel

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Charts

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References

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  1. ^ "Korn – Rotting In Vain". Play MPE. July 22, 2016. Retrieved April 11, 2022.
  2. ^ "Korn – Take Me". Play MPE. November 2016. Retrieved February 9, 2022.
  3. ^ "Korn – Black Is the Soul". Play MPE. June 7, 2017. Retrieved February 9, 2022.
  4. ^ "KORN To Release 'The Serenity Of Suffering' Album In October; 'Rotting In Vain' Video Premiere". Blabbermouth.net. July 22, 2016. Retrieved January 10, 2017.
  5. ^ "KORN's BRIAN 'HEAD' WELCH On Next Album: We're Gonna Come Out Heavier Than Anyone's Heard Us In A Long Time". Blabbermouth.net. August 4, 2015. Retrieved January 10, 2017.
  6. ^ Downey, Ryan J. (May 18, 2016). ""I learned by going broke"—Brian 'Head' Welch talks new book, Korn's next album, A Day To Remember". Alternative Press. Cleveland, Ohio. Retrieved January 10, 2017.
  7. ^ "KORN Frontman JONATHAN DAVIS Reveals Details Of 'Black Labyrinth' Solo Album". Blabbermouth.net. March 19, 2018. Retrieved March 24, 2018.
  8. ^ "KORN To Release 'The Serenity Of Suffering' Album In October; 'Rotting In Vain' Video Premiere". July 22, 2016. Retrieved September 9, 2016.
  9. ^ Caulfield, Keith (October 30, 2016). "Seven Albums Debut in Top 10 of Billboard 200 Chart, Led by Lady Gaga, Michael Buble & Pentatonix". Billboard. Retrieved October 31, 2016.
  10. ^ "Metal By Numbers 12/20: War on Christmas". Metal Insider. December 20, 2017. Retrieved March 24, 2018.
  11. ^ a b "The Serenity of Suffering Reviews - Korn". Metacritic. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  12. ^ a b Yeung, Neil Z. (October 20, 2016). "The Serenity of Suffering - Korn | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved October 20, 2016.
  13. ^ Wilding, Philip (October 17, 2016). "Korn - The Serenity of Suffering album review - Classic Rock". Retrieved October 20, 2016.
  14. ^ Franzkowiak, Chris (October 21, 2016). "Review: Korn - THE SERENITY OF SUFFERING - Classic Rock Magazin". Archived from the original on October 21, 2016. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  15. ^ Lawson, Dom (October 20, 2016). "Review: Korn: The Serenity of Suffering review – darker, nastier and more commanding". TheGuardian.com. Retrieved October 20, 2016.
  16. ^ a b Spencer, Trey (October 7, 2016). "Korn - The Serenity of Suffering album review - Metal Hammer". Retrieved October 20, 2016.
  17. ^ Pementel, Michael (October 20, 2016). "Review: Album Review: KORN The Serenity of Suffering". Retrieved October 20, 2016.
  18. ^ a b Weingarten, Christopher R. (October 20, 2016). "Review: Korn's 'The Serenity of Suffering' Is Ridiculously Heavy". Rolling Stone. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  19. ^ "The Serenity of Suffering by Korn". iTunes Store. Retrieved September 24, 2016.
  20. ^ "The Serenity of Suffering (Deluxe) by Korn". iTunes Store. Retrieved October 16, 2016.
  21. ^ "Australiancharts.com – Korn – The Serenity of Suffering". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 29, 2016.
  22. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Korn – The Serenity of Suffering" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved November 3, 2016.
  23. ^ "Ultratop.be – Korn – The Serenity of Suffering" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved October 28, 2016.
  24. ^ "Ultratop.be – Korn – The Serenity of Suffering" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved October 28, 2016.
  25. ^ "Korn Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 1, 2016.
  26. ^ "Czech Albums – Top 100". ČNS IFPI. Note: On the chart page, select 43.Týden 2016 on the field besides the words "CZ – ALBUMS – TOP 100" to retrieve the correct chart. Retrieved October 14, 2022.
  27. ^ "Hitlisten.NU – Vinyl Top-40 Uge 43, 2016". Hitlisten. Retrieved September 19, 2022.
  28. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Korn – The Serenity of Suffering" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved October 28, 2016.
  29. ^ "Korn: The Serenity of Suffering" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved October 30, 2016.
  30. ^ "Lescharts.com – Korn – The Serenity of Suffering". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 30, 2016.
  31. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Korn – The Serenity of Suffering" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved October 28, 2016.
  32. ^ "Album Top 40 slágerlista – 2016. 42. hét" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. Retrieved October 26, 2016.
  33. ^ "GFK Chart-Track Albums: Week 43, 2016". Chart-Track. IRMA. Retrieved October 29, 2016.
  34. ^ "Italiancharts.com – Korn – The Serenity of Suffering". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 29, 2016.
  35. ^ 26, 2016/ "Oricon Top 50 Albums: October 26, 2016" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved March 12, 2023.
  36. ^ "Charts.nz – Korn – The Serenity of Suffering". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 28, 2016.
  37. ^ "Oficjalna lista sprzedaży :: OLiS - Official Retail Sales Chart". OLiS. Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved November 3, 2016.
  38. ^ "Portuguesecharts.com – Korn – The Serenity of Suffering". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 5, 2016.
  39. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 29, 2016.
  40. ^ "Slovak Albums – Top 100". ČNS IFPI. Retrieved December 15, 2022. Note: On the chart page, select SK - Albums - Top 100 under the left field and "201643" on the field besides the word "Zobrazit", and then click over the word to retrieve the correct chart data.
  41. ^ "TOP 100 ALBUMES — SEMANA 43: del 21.10.2016 al 27.10.2016" (in Spanish). Productores de Música de España. Retrieved November 4, 2016.
  42. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Korn – The Serenity of Suffering". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 29, 2016.
  43. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Korn – The Serenity of Suffering". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 2, 2016.
  44. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 29, 2016.
  45. ^ "Official Rock & Metal Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. October 28, 2016. Retrieved February 10, 2022.
  46. ^ "Korn Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved October 31, 2016.
  47. ^ "Korn Chart History (Top Alternative Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved September 4, 2022.
  48. ^ "Korn Chart History (Top Hard Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved September 4, 2022.
  49. ^ "Korn Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October 4, 2020.
  50. ^ "Top Rock Albums – Year-End 2016". Billboard. Retrieved October 4, 2020.
  51. ^ "Hard Rock Albums – Year-End 2016". Billboard. Retrieved August 19, 2022.
  52. ^ "Hard Rock Albums – Year-End 2017". Billboard. Retrieved August 19, 2022.
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